When you think about a gun safe, you probably picture large safes with big steel doors. And when you ask the question of how much a gun safe weighs, you instantly think they’re very heavy. While those large gun safes certainly are heavy, there are plenty of other types of safes too. Not all gun safes are extremely heavy.
There are several different types of gun safes out there and the weight is ultimately going to depend on what style or type of safe you have in your home. The quick answer to this question is that a gun safe may be anywhere from about 20 pounds clear up to 5,000 pounds.
Compact safes will weigh much less while large safes will weigh a lot more. Keep reading to learn more about gun safe weights.
There are several different factors that might affect the weight of a gun safe. Here, we will dive a little deeper into just what those details are.
Size is the most obvious factor that is going to affect how much a gun safe weighs. The larger the safe, the more it is probably going to weigh. While that logic isn’t always 100% true, your large safes are definitely going to weigh more than the small or compact safes on the market.
If you’re wondering how much does a large gun safe weigh, the average safe weighs around 600 pounds. Many large safes will weigh over 1,000 pounds and potentially could weigh up to 5,000 pounds. Large safes are heavy enough that you’re going to want to make sure they are in a place they won’t need to be moved anytime soon.
On that same note, you also want to be sure that the floor and location can support the weight of a large safe. When you have a smaller safe, they will often weigh much less. Many of the small compact safes weigh less than 250 pounds and some of the smallest safes might only weigh 20 pounds. When you check out the best gun safes, you see a large variety of sizes.
There are other factors that affect weight as well.
The next thing that might affect the weight is the steel gauge of the safe. You might have one of the best bedside gun safes that are small and compact and yet it could be heavy or bulky because of the steel that is used for it.
You can have solid, heavy-duty steel that weighs less or you can have thick steel that weighs more. Thicker steel can sometimes be more secure but this will depend on the overall design of the gun safe. In order for a gun safe to really be considered secure, it needs to be a minimum of 12-gauge steel.
If you aren’t familiar with steel gauging, here’s a quick tip. The smaller the gauge number, the thicker the steel actually is.
So, for example, 7-gauge steel will be quite a bit thicker than 12-gauge. The thicker the steel, the heavier your safe is going to be. It also will contribute to the security of the safe as well.
Some safes have drawers built into them but you also have the ability to add a drawer to a safe. A drawer will definitely add weight to the safe. If you have a lightweight safe, this is going to be a noticeable difference. However, if you already have a heavy safe, it probably won’t be significant enough to notice.
Drawers inside of safes are almost like another mini safe inside of a safe. It can add another layer of security when you feel it could be needed.
When you invest in a safe, it’s a good idea to get a safe with fireproof qualities. While it might not always be 100% effective, it will definitely help. Fires are unexpected most of the time and there are a large number of fires that occur every year Trusted Source Home Structure Fires report | NFPA This report examines causes and circumstances of home structure fires reported to local fire departments in the U.S. Estimates are provided of home fires and losses overall. www.nfpa.org .
Not every safe is made to be fireproof so this is a detail you will need to watch for if it’s important to you. The added fire insulation will affect the answer to how much does a gun safe weigh because the fireboards added can be heavy too.
Insulation is added in layers of fireboard that could be up to two inches thick and will contribute to the overall weight of the safe in question.
Finally, the design of your safe is going to make a difference as well. For example, tactical traps like this one from Tactical Traps are lightweight because they’re built to be hidden on a shelf or surface. It is a simple place to trap a small amount or 1-2 guns in a convenient location.
However, huge floor safes are designed to be much heavier because they are heavy-duty and highly secure. You’re looking at thick steel, a heavy steel door, plus all of the shelves and things inside that add to the weight. These are the safes that could easily weigh up to 5,000 pounds.
A heavier gun safe might be more secure in the fact that it will be harder to break into. However, it doesn’t mean that every small safe is insecure. For example, the best hidden gun safe options will be fairly secure as well since it is hidden. It’s secure because it’s not obvious and easy to find.
On the other hand, heavy and large safes are going to be secure by design but also secure because they are so heavy. It all boils down to the design though, like the gauge of steel used in the walls and doors.
Ultimately, it will be up to your preferences to determine whether you want a heavy gun safe or sometimes that is less visible. If you’re looking for something hidden, check out this top option from Guide Gear that is concealed in a “vent”. Of course, both kinds have pros and cons.
The pros of having a heavy gun safe include security. If made right, this will be a very secure safe because they are made with better levels of fire or theft protection. They also tend to have a lot more room and be more durable to last for years to come.
The cons, on the other hand, include the weight of such a gun safe. They are very heavy, which can make storing them or moving them Trusted Source OSHA procedures for safe weight limits when manually lifting | Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances. www.osha.gov a challenge. These large safes are also quite a bit more expensive and might even require special installation in some cases.
If you decide to invest in a large safe, you will want to be mindful of how and where you’re going to place it. Do you want it to be a permanent fixture? Do you intend to stay in your home for an extended period of time? These details will matter.
Gun safes can have a broad range of sizes and weights. What your gun safe weighs is going to depend on many of the details that we’ve shared here. Before you purchase a gun safe, it’s a good idea to pay attention to the steel gauge, fireproof, and other similar aspects to really understand what affects the weight.
Keep in mind that how much does a gun safe weigh might also depend on what is in the gun safe. If you have any type of storage, guns, ammo, and equipment inside these will most certainly contribute to the total weight of the safe as well. Plan carefully for moving needs.
